Define Goals #AtoZChallenge

Define goals

It's important to define goals when writing something one plans to share with the public.

In this case, my goal is to put this novella on the market. I prefer to self-publish, so I do a month of work before putting a book out, at minimum. If it sells more than 25 copies, I plan to write another story with Monoghan.

Goals for the characters are also vital. 

Monoghan starts wanting to discover what was bequeathed to him, learn which friend has died, and escort the two traveling companions safely, all within the short three-day window.

Candra is on the same quest. She wants to see more of the world and grow her powers.

Phin Fynn is on the quest also. He has a secondary objective that is not revealed until later.

What reading hopes and goals might you have if you bought a copy of this fantasy novella?

---

Sign-up for the challenge! https://forms.gle/41PjgHFL4zwnM2Am7

Please check out the April Blogging from A to Z Challenge
#AtoZChallenge a-to-zchallenge.com

Create Strong Settings #AtoZChallenge #IWSG Blogging History

Create strong settings

In the opening, we saw The Forest. In this next scene, we see the Valiant Tavern. The highlighted areas below show setting details that point out what the place basically looks like, especially as it will relate to the story.

The portrait is our first clue that Monoghan was once famous and that he is much older than the audience might believe. 

The trash becomes important later.

We learn from the porch that this is a bit like a red carpet at an awards show. Judgment reigns supreme here, but Monoghan doesn't care. 

The door is so heavy and solid that it suggests this place may have been a stronghold at some point. The walls are stone, adding to that theory. Inside has hiding places, such as the rafters and corners. 

Hopefully, the five primary senses are involved: 

sight 👀 - The look is described, especially the dirty portraits.

smell 👃 - We can imagine how that trash might smell. (Moreso if you've been in allies with such dumpsters.🚮)

hearing 👂 - The first sounds are the judgemental porch patrons. Later, the door and the echo.

taste 👅 - He orders a mead 🍺 later in the scene. 

touch ☝ - The weight of the door is the clearest usage. Velvet on the stool also has a distinct feeling.

Is this the sort of place you'd want to go or read about?

A lot of fantasy stories include a tavern or similar place, especially near the start. 

A bit of intrigue, a little mystery, and perhaps danger make the place intriguing. 

Do you expect this type of place in a high-fantasy story?

---

Sign-up for the challenge! https://forms.gle/41PjgHFL4zwnM2Am7

Please check out the April Blogging from A to Z Challenge
#AtoZChallenge a-to-zchallenge.com

---

InsecureWritersSupportGroup.com

Shout-out to Alex and the awesome co-hosts for today: Janet Alcorn, T. Powell Coltrin, Natalie Aguirre, and Pat Garcia!

April 3 question - How long have you been blogging? What do you like about it and how has it changed?

I started back in 2012 so I could join the #AtoZChallenge. The first blog was on a platform that is now defunct. The second platform shut down after some problems with coding. This Blogger blog is the third and current blogging platform for my blog. 

I enjoy sharing more details about what I'm writing, participating in blog hops, and connecting with fellow bloggers. The biggest change is the shrinking community. A to Z and the IWSG are the strongest groups of bloggers I know, and they are supportive of one another.

Have one of those, or both, brought you here today?

Begin Hero Journey #AtoZChallenge

Begin hero journey



Pinterest writing and editing board-- https://pin.it/5UCYmXghO

The hero's journey is a story template in which a protagonist embarks on an unforeseen quest involving adventures and lessons and ending with some kind of transformation.

At the onset, Monoghan only cares about protecting his forest. The opening image has him in his forest, basically removed from any life outside. 

There's a hint that, by the end of the story, the audience will discover they can't always trust what they see or are told. And that, by the end, Monoghan will better value sharing life's experiences with someone.

The protagonist’s initial goal (seen yesterday) is to be at the Shamlin Ruins in three days to collect what was bequeathed to him by his recently deceased friend. He will also help two others get there and learn the identity of his friend who passed away. 

His curiosity prevents him from not going on the journey. 

Still, only three days to get there makes this quest nearly impossible. 

In this particular story, we learn that Monoghan is a mentor (or hero) to Phin Fynn, the child who is one of the companions on the journey. Candra and Phin Fynn must overcome fears to go into the forest. Though Monoghan lives there, perils are faced due to those traveling with him.

We then learn a story from Monoghan's past, told over a campfire, which later becomes vital.

Monoghan is doing well in the new scenario, but Candra is struggling due to her dietary needs. This causes a side quest where he must get her food. 

B is only for beginning the Hero Journey, not for revealing a major plot twist! Thus, we'll stop here.

Does the story feel interesting so far?

---

Sign-up for the challenge! https://forms.gle/41PjgHFL4zwnM2Am7

Please check out the April Blogging from A to Z Challenge
#AtoZChallenge a-to-zchallenge.com

Analyze Opening #AtoZChallenge and #WEP

Analyze Opening


The above image is a screenshot of the first page of this High Fantasy novella.

• Does it establish, for you, that the genre is High Fantasy?

A Great Wolf isn't often seen outside of Fantasy stories. [Unless you live in my area and see ads like this one every day...]

• Is there urgency and attention-grabbing?

Fire 🔥 is known to grab attention. (The psychology is that it is connected to safety, so people respond to it.) 

• Is there emotion-driven conflict?

Knowing a friend died is both emotional and relatable. It is meant to be evident that the very Forest is alive and fears this Great Wolf leaving.

• Is the theme evident?

This story is going to be a quest. 

In three days' time, you must be at the Shamlin Ruins to collect what he bequeathed to you.

You must travel united, helping and protecting one another. 

There is a ticking clock of three days. A reason is presented for the main character to go. And there's a mystery of both who died and what was left.  

• Is the main character's motivation clear?

It is spelled out fairly well.

• Do we know a description of Monoghan, the main character?

Great Wolf, dark brown fur

shifted from his natural wolf self into his human form 

human form has light brown skin  

• Is the setting evident?

The opening is obviously in a Forest. 

• 😎📘 BONUS! Is there a hint this ties to the Existence series?

🛒 https://amzn.to/3TGUWRW

• Will a reader want to read more?

You tell me! 

What do you think of this opening?

And do you enjoy reading fantasy? 

---

Sign-up for the challenge! https://forms.gle/41PjgHFL4zwnM2Am7

Please check out the April Blogging from A to Z Challenge
#AtoZChallenge a-to-zchallenge.com

---

My writing update is that I'm working on this project! I hope you'll join me for the challenge. Please check back as the month progresses.

#AtoZchallenge 2024 Theme Reveal and #IWSG AI

I had hoped to have the high fantasy novella I've been working on to be done before April. Due to a death in the family and other issues, that didn't happen. So I am using the challenge to write about the process of self-publishing a novella.

The official theme reveal sign-up will open on March 10.

InsecureWritersSupportGroup.com

Shout-out to Alex and the awesome co-hosts for today: Kristina Kelly, Miffie Seideman, Jean Davis, and Liza @ Middle Passages!

March 6 question -

Have you "played" with AI to write those nasty synopses, or do you refuse to go that route? How do you feel about AI's impact on creative writing?

I feel as if I've answered this to the best of my ability already. https://jlennidorner.blogspot.com/2023/10/artificial-writing-iwsg-operation.html

---

Happening at the A to Z Challenge
The 2024 badges are now available.

WEP Get Together and IWSG Author Website Turn-offs

There's not much to report writing-wise. My aunt-in-law passed (as expected, cancer), and my spouse and I have been dealing with her estate. (Draaaaama.) Hope to be back to a normal routine again soon.

InsecureWritersSupportGroup.com

Shout-out to Alex and the awesome co-hosts for today: Janet Alcorn, SE White, Victoria Marie Lees, and Cathrina Constantine

Feb 7 question -

What turns you off when visiting an author's website/blog?

1. When there is a logo or link thing to social media (Facebook, etc), but clicking it goes to Facebook or whatever main site. Instead of to the author's social media site. Or it's a broken link. I know stuff happens, but especially if you're in a hop and expecting an influx of guests, check your stuff. Ask a friend to check your site. Heck, ask me beforehand. Goodreads is a big one where authors put a link to the main site but not to their own author page. Why? Unless you are getting paid, that is a waste of your time and mine. Link to places where there is more YOU. Your books, your social, you, you, you. 
2. A dead blog. No posts for half a year. Why am I on the site?
3. If I have to log in and/or sign up to leave you a comment-- BYE. ✋
4. The WordPress or Blogger dashboard. I can't get to your blog from that. You need to know your own website URL. We have discussed this at A to Z, so I know there are resources to teach noobs how to figure this out. 
5. Difficult navigation. If I can't find what I came for in 45 seconds, I'm gone and won't be back. 
6. Mocking reviewers, readers, etc. I don't want any part of it. 
7. If I can't see it. Black text on a black background. I'm not highlighting everything. I don't have all day. Yellow text on white. What? Is this an eye test or a blog? 

I know links break, sites go down, servers time-out, THINGS HAPPEN. But on a regular day, your site should be easy to access, navigate, and use. I consider myself an expert in this area, having been to thousands of blogs and author sites. I know I am not alone on this list. I am the #AtoZChallenge captain, and in April, people message me with complaints about blogs that make those errors. PLEASE avoid the easy mistakes. 

 

---

Happening at the A to Z Challenge
February- Jayden's post-- Fall in love with your blog and blog hops again
March- J -Post to Announce the April challenge is coming (post during the first week of March)

IWSG BookBub

https://www.insecurewriterssupportgroup.com/p/iwsg-sign-up.html

A mix of both, but yeah, mostly follow fellow authors.
J on BookBub https://www.bookbub.com/profile/j-lenni-dorner

New Year 2024 Bucket List of Blogging Goals #AtoZChallenge
http://www.a-to-zchallenge.com/2024/01/new-year-2024-bucket-list-of-blogging.html